The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-21

teenth Corps was nus on the left Mcfher'
son in the center and Sherman on the right,
Gil facing tho north.
From the Sd OF May, when the writer's
regiment left Port Gibson, till about tho
18th Of that month, the part OF the army no
was with, General A. j. Smiths division
OF the Thirteenth corps, moved m gencr-
al northerly course. Willow Springs,
Rocky Springs, Cayuga and Mount Auburn
were severally occupied, and among other
streams crossed were Big Sandy, Five-m mile
creek and Fourteen-mile creek. AT Cayuga
the command Ohe divislon) halted for a
day or two. 1t was now dry and dusty, the
immediate vicinity was devoid OF streams,
and the only water available was dipped
from stagnant ponds, after the green scum
covering them had been pushed aside.
While here, towards the middle Of u hot
sultry day, u division marched by on the
dusty road, near which Smiths division
was enclmped Among the moving troops
was Wisconsin regiment which had a pet
eagle. \ perch was made for him upon o
thin board cut In the form OF shield, TO
this he was chained and all was borne upon
the shoulder OF u soldier, As before said
the day was hot, the roads were dusty and
the eagle with dropping feathers and gen.
eral crcstfal'en appearance looked any
thing but the Proud Bird' he is supposed
to be. Wonderful stories concerning the
eagle were, however, in circul ltion. Among
other things IL was sad that in time Of bat
tie when no was always loosened. he would
soar above the regiment, flap his wings,
hover about and scream with delight
The Wisconsin regiment that had this
"emblem Of its country" became noted as
the 'Idqls regiment
At Auburn General Frank 2. Blair's di-
vision joined Smiths.
Frank 7. Blair, before tho war, was n
prominent and vigorous opponent of
slavery, and lived ut st. Louis, Mo. In
the hotly-contcsted slavery discussions
that preceded the war, many frce-soil
speeches were made by him, and full re-
ports Of these frequently appeared in the
Missouri Democrats tho only paper OF any
prominence publ he'd in st Louis that APP
posed slavery. Blair entered the army and
proved most efficient officer.
While ut Auburn, word was received of
Hooker's defeat-the Army of the Potomac
"a. Charlottesville, the 81 and 81 of May.
The command-Smith's division-moved
northward, and about.the 18th or l4th of
May crossed Fourteen-Miie creek and en-
campcd over n ght some miles north of
u
stood that the enemy was not far off-in
fact they were in force but five miles
away, at Edwards Station, on the Vicks
burg and jackson railroad.
All this time the line OF march had led in
uortherly direction, but early the next
morning after encamping north of Four
tecn-Mle creek, the division faced about,
recrossed that stream and finally took
road eastward for Raymond. This place
was reached late in the evening and the
regiment went into camp some little dis
lance east of the town. Early next morn
ing the regiment again passed through
the town and took O road leading in a
northwesterly direction; very soon the
enemy's pickets were encountered and tho
whole division, about nine o'clock, de-
ployed and advanced in line OF battle.
The country on both sides the road was
either cultivated fields or for the most part
ope n timber, so that the advance was I'M
INSTRUCTED by thick timber or ravines
The enemy did not seem to be in strong
force in front, and the advance was most
beautiful and orderly. Every regiment
had It's flag unfurled and banner flying,
and all moved forward with stately tread.
The writer looked on with admiration, for
here was the "pomp and circumstance OF
war" without its horrors. But heavy
firing off to the right told that others wcrc
not coming of 80 easily. This was tho
battle Of Champions Hill or Bakers
Creek, and was fought May IS, 1866. Tho
Confederates with force numbering
twenty five thousand had taken strong
position at Champions Hill, en- elevation
that commanded the whole region.
The road upon which were Smith and
Blair's divisions ran 70 the south Of the
elevation, hence but slight resistance was
found in their front
But on the other roads to the north,
upon which Carr's, Osterhaus' and
Hovey's divisions came into action, the
enemy was met in force. Hovey's Division
belonged to the Thirteenth corps, but for
the time was with Mcpherson upon the
northern or main Vicksburg and Jackson
road.
Hovey fought terribly and suffered Sc
verely; large share Of tho whole loss was
sustained by his division, which that day
lost one-third Of its number.
The Contederates sustained overwhelm-
ing defeat, losing in killed, wounded and
missing upwards of six thousand, and
towards and after night retreated precip-
itately.
The Thirteenth Corps pursued them
early on the morning of the 18th of May,
and before noon came upon their fortifi-
cations on the Big Black river, where the
railway bridge crosses that stream. The
writer with the hospital department was
behind with the trains. These moved very
Early in the morning house
was passed th:,t had been shot through and
through with cannon-balls.
Before noon Edwards station was reached
and at the Con federate hospital the writer's
attention was called to a young Confed-
crate who had his heart on the wrorg side.
There was problbly soMe enlargement that
made the heart beat appear to the right OF
the chest. At noontime rest and dinner
were taken upder some trees in a pasture
and while here Confederate paper was
seen which told what terrible losses the in
vaders had sustained and how they were
soon to be hurled back Ghd sent flying to
their homes
After time the road was again taken
and pretty soon a cot was passed at the
side of the road upon which was dying
officer.
Before Black river bridge was reached
the advance had skirmished with the en-
envy and in this affair the officer, who was